Huntsville Metro area prepares for winter threat

Mayor Tommy Battle said, "One thing you can't do anything with is ice. Doesn't matter if you have four-wheel drive, eight-wheel drive, it is tough."

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -

Experts said it's not just cities and road crews that need to prepare for the winter threat, but everyone should.

Folks said they want to get everything they needed as soon as possible before the storm hit. That included the essentials such as bread and milk, as well as prescriptions. Mayor Tommy Battle said if everyone takes care of the basics, Huntsville can handle the rest.

Mother Nature can deal some difficult cards, however. "One thing you can't do anything with is ice," Mayor Battle. "Doesn't matter if you have four-wheel drive, eight-wheel drive, it is tough. We have people who stay overnight at public works, ready to attack the spots that we really have problems at, ready to put sand out and gravel out."

City officials recommended people stay home after you get your shopping done.

They spent Monday loading salt and preparing vehicles in case they need to hit the roads. Road crews started even though there hadn't been any snow flurries.

Alabama Department of Transportation workers put down a solution on multiple Morgan County bridges that would help stop any initial freezing Monday afternoon. That spray won't help ice from forming but it would slow the process down so crews have time to put out more salt when needed.

Morgan County EMA Management said it's a difficult storm for them to prepare for because some parts of the county may see nothing while others see significant freezing. That's why so many people were put on standby mode in case they see a worst case scenario unfold.

"The difference with this one is it looks like it may be a possible 2 day punch," said Eddie Hicks, the Morgan County EMA Director. "So we may dodge the first one and it may get us on the second one so we've got to be prepared."

Morgan County crews said they had six tons of salt and a near endless amount of sand ready at their disposal. Road workers spent Monday afternoon fitting county vehicles with salt spreaders. All of the equipment is brand new and they tried a lot of it out to make sure that if they do need it, it's ready to go.

Workers said what's difficult about the Morgan County area is the elevation change, so they monitored the temperature in multiple locations in and around the Falkville and Eva areas.

"The guys have worked here a long time and they're pretty experienced on those type roads where they're shaded areas and a lot of tree cover and sunlight doesn't get to it," said Don Stisher, the Morgan County Commissioner. "We're knowledgeable of that and we go to those areas and treat that as soon as we go to our primary route roads."

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